Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney
You'll land in Sydney and get settled into your hotel at Circular Quay, where your room's ready from 3 pm. At 6 pm, join the group for a welcome drink to meet the other travelers and get oriented before the week starts.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Landmarks Circular Quay - Day 2
Sydney
Start by heading to Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Botanical Gardens for views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Then it's off to Bondi Beach to watch the surfers. After that, you'll take a harbor tour with lunch included, leaving the afternoon free to wander through the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch included in harbor tour)
Included Activities
- Visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Botanical Gardens
- Visit Bondi Beach
- Harbor tour with lunch included
Optional Activities
- Stroll around the city on your own
Landmarks Mrs Macquarie's Chair Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge Bondi Beach Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney - Day 3
Sydney to Hobart
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Tasmania. Once you arrive, explore Hobart on a city tour hitting Salamanca Square and the Battery Point district. Weather permitting, head up to Mount Wellington for views over the capital. The route covers about 40 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Flight to Tasmania
- City tour of Hobart
- Visit Salamanca Square
- Visit Battery Point district
- Mount Wellington viewpoint (weather permitting)
Landmarks Salamanca Square Battery Point Mount Wellington 
- Day 4
Hobart - Port Arthur - Hobart
Full day heading to Port Arthur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Tasman Peninsula. A guided tour takes you through Australia's history with access to over 30 historic buildings and a harbor cruise. You'll grab lunch at a lavender farm before heading back to Hobart. It's roughly 220 km for the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a beautifully located lavender farm)
Included Activities
- Excursion to Port Arthur (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Guided tour of Port Arthur
- Harbor cruise
- Access to more than 30 historic buildings
- Lunch at lavender farm
Landmarks Port Arthur Historic Site - Day 5
Hobart to Cradle Mountain
Drive from Hobart through Tasmania's interior heading northwest. Stop at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Brighton to see Tasmanian devils and other exotic animals found nowhere else. The landscape gets progressively more mountainous and rugged as you travel about 340 km to Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park in the central highlands.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
- Observe Tasmanian devils and exotic animals
Landmarks Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park - Day 6
Cradle Mountain to Launceston
After breakfast, take a hike around Dove Lake in Cradle Mountain National Park, discovering little bays and alpine forest with plants and animals unique to the area. Later, drive to Launceston and check out Cataract Gorge where the South Esk River carved through rock. The drive is roughly 150 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Hike around Dove Lake in Cradle Mountain National Park
- Explore bays and alpine forest sections
- Visit Cataract Gorge in Launceston
Landmarks Dove Lake Cataract Gorge - Day 7
Launceston to Melbourne
Fly to Melbourne and transfer to your hotel at the docklands. Spend the rest of the day settling in and exploring at your own pace. It's about 150 km from the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Flight to Melbourne
- Transfer to hotel
Landmarks Melbourne Docklands - Day 8
Melbourne
Take a city tour seeing historic buildings like St. Patrick's Church, Fitzroy Gardens, and Victoria State Parliament House. If you're interested, explore Melbourne's food scene at lunch. The afternoon is yours to stroll through the city, take a Yarra River cruise, or optionally catch the penguin parade on Phillip Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Melbourne
- Visit St. Patrick's Church
- Visit Fitzroy Gardens
- Visit Victoria State Parliament House
Optional Activities
- Discover the city's gastronomic scene at lunch
- Stroll through the city
- Cruise on the Yarra River
- Trip to Phillip Island with penguin parade
Landmarks St. Patrick's Cathedral Fitzroy Gardens Victoria State Parliament House Yarra River Phillip Island - Day 9
Melbourne to Mount Gambier
Travel the Great Ocean Road, one of the world's most beautiful coastal drives. Stop at various viewpoints and charming towns to see rock formations like the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard George, carved by wind and sea over thousands of years. Pass through the fishing village of Port Fairy on your way to Mount Gambier. The full route is roughly 510 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Travel the Great Ocean Road
- Stop at multiple viewpoints along the coast
- Visit 12 Apostles rock formations
- Visit Loch Ard George
- Pass through Port Fairy fishing village
Landmarks Great Ocean Road 12 Apostles Loch Ard Gorge Port Fairy - Day 10
Mount Gambier to Kangaroo Island
Visit Blue Lake, which shifts from grey to deep blue around November. Then head to Cape Jervis through the scenic Fleurieu Peninsula before catching the ferry to Kangaroo Island, about 13 km across the water. You'll cover approximately 590 km for the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Blue Lake
- Ferry to Kangaroo Island
Landmarks Blue Lake Fleurieu Peninsula Cape Jervis - Day 11
Kangaroo Island
See Australian wildlife in dramatic landscapes. At Seal Bay, observe rare sea lions right on the beach with a ranger guide. Then head to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to watch koalas in eucalyptus trees. Explore the unusual rock formations in Flinders Chase National Park. By evening, take the ferry back to the mainland and continue to Adelaide. About 180 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Seal Bay and see sea lions with ranger
- Visit Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to observe koalas
- Visit Flinders Chase National Park
- Ferry to mainland
Landmarks Seal Bay Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Flinders Chase National Park - Day 12
Adelaide
The day is yours to enjoy Adelaide's laid-back atmosphere. Wander through spacious parks and charming buildings at your own pace. Check out the Botanic Gardens and museums on North Terrace, take the historic streetcar to the seaside town of Glenelg, or optionally explore wine regions nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Botanic Gardens
- Visit museums on North Terrace
- Take historic streetcar to Glenelg
- Excursion to McLaren Vale wine region
- Excursion to Barossa Valley wine region
Landmarks Adelaide Botanic Gardens North Terrace Glenelg McLaren Vale Barossa Valley - Day 13
Adelaide to Alice Springs
Transfer to the airport and fly to Alice Springs. Explore the town by visiting the Royal Flying Doctor Service to learn how crucial these 'flying doctors' are in remote areas. Then head to Desert Park where outdoor enclosures display typical Australian landscapes with many endemic animal and bird species. It's about 40 km around.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Flight to Alice Springs
- Visit Royal Flying Doctor Service
- Visit Desert Park
Landmarks Royal Flying Doctor Service Desert Park - Day 14
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
Drive through the vast Red Center wilderness with unforgettable views. Arrive at Watarrka National Park where Kings Canyon's red rocky cliffs glow in the evening light, rising about 100 m high. Lush vegetation thrives where water reaches roots. Take a short hike (about 45 minutes) along the canyon floor to get a feel for it. The drive is approximately 475 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive through Red Center
- Short hike along Kings Canyon floor (approximately 45 minutes)
Landmarks Watarrka National Park Kings Canyon 
- Day 15
Kings Canyon to Uluru
Head out early for a challenging hike to the rock plateau above Kings Canyon (about 3 hours, needs sure-footedness). Then drive to Uluru, circling the massive monolith and stopping for short walks at interesting spots. By evening, settle in for the sunset at Uluru with sparkling wine. It's roughly 360 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Challenging hike to rock plateau above Kings Canyon (approximately 3 hours)
- Circle Uluru with short hikes at interesting spots
- Sunset at Uluru with sparkling wine
Landmarks Kings Canyon Uluru - Day 16
Uluru to Cairns
Wake early to catch the sunrise at Uluru. Visit the cultural center to learn about Aboriginal history and way of life. Drive to Kata Tjuta, a rust-red dome-shaped rock formation about 60 km away, for a short hike. Then transfer to the airport and fly to Cairns, heading to your hotel at the Docklands.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Uluru
- Visit Aboriginal cultural center
- Drive to Kata Tjuta
- Short hike at Kata Tjuta
- Flight to Cairns
- Transfer to hotel
Landmarks Uluru Kata Tjuta - Day 17
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef
Take a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. A speedboat takes you far out to the Outer Reef where colorful coral provides home to incredible marine life. Get up close to the underwater world by swimming, snorkeling, or diving. It's about 20 km out to the reef.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Day trip to Outer Reef on excursion boat
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
Optional Activities
- Diving
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 18
Cairns - Kuranda - Cairns
Travel on a historic train through rainforest up to the Atherton Tablelands with sweeping views of the Pacific coast and Great Barrier Reef. The route ends in Kuranda, a small jungle village where you'll learn about indigenous history, mythology, and traditional ways of life. In the afternoon, float back over the rainforest canopy on the longest cable car in the southern hemisphere. Transfer returns you to Cairns, about 60 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Historic train journey through rainforest to Atherton Tablelands
- Visit Kuranda village
- Learn about indigenous history, mythology and traditional way of life
- Cable car ride back through rainforest treetops
Landmarks Kuranda Atherton Tablelands - Day 19
Cairns to Airlie Beach
Head to the train station for a 9.5 hour journey on the 'Spirit of Queensland' past sugar cane fields and mango plantations. The train ends in Proserpine, where a short drive takes you to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the tropical Whitsunday Islands. About 25 km drive plus the full train ride.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Train journey on "Spirit of Queensland" (approximately 9.5 hours)
- Transfer to Airlie Beach
Landmarks Whitsunday Islands - Day 20
Airlie Beach - Whitsunday Islands
Spend a full day sailing the Whitsundays through azure waters between the islands. Hike to Hill Inlet, snorkel on a pristine coral reef, and enjoy BBQ lunch. You'll see Whiteheaven Beach with its white sands and shimmering blue water, one of the most photographed beaches in Australia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious BBQ lunch)
Included Activities
- Full-day boat trip through Whitsunday Islands
- Sail through Whitsunday waters
- Hike to Hill Inlet
- Snorkel on pristine coral reef
- Visit Whiteheaven Beach
Landmarks Whitsunday Islands Hill Inlet Whiteheaven Beach 
- Day 21
Airlie Beach to Sunshine Coast
Fly to Brisbane and drive to the Sunshine Coast. Sandy beaches stretch for 60 km along this varied region. White beaches and pristine waterways border lush rainforests and World Heritage national parks. The drive covers approximately 110 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Flight to Brisbane
- Drive to Sunshine Coast
Landmarks Sunshine Coast - Day 22
Sunshine Coast
The day is free to enjoy the tropical setting. Walk along the beaches, watch surfers, or stroll through shopping areas at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk along beaches
- Watch surfers
- Stroll through shopping streets
- Day 23
Sunshine Coast to Brisbane
Explore the interior as a natural paradise with great viewpoints and charming historic villages. Walk through Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve to see the Sunshine Coast rainforest and views over the Glasshouse Mountains. Then continue to Brisbane, the charming capital of Queensland. Hard to believe this sun-drenched city started as Australia's first convict colony. About 100 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Walk in Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
- View Glasshouse Mountains
Landmarks Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Glasshouse Mountains - Day 24
Brisbane
Take a city tour through Brisbane seeing highlights like Mt Coot-tha, Newstead House, and Government House. The afternoon is free to relax on the city beach, stroll along the Brisbane River, or sit at one of the many cafes and restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Brisbane
- Visit Mt Coot-tha
- Visit Newstead House
- Visit Government House
Optional Activities
- Relax on city beach
- Stroll along Brisbane River
- Visit cafes and restaurants
Landmarks Mt Coot-tha Newstead House Government House Brisbane Brisbane River - Day 25
Brisbane
The tour ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
